In the future, Air New Zealand believes spatial computing could improve the passenger experience, and is experimenting with the technology accordingly.

Air New Zealand has debuted “Fact or Fantasy? The Fantastical Game of New Zealand”, a spatial computing board game which immerses players in New Zealand’s key tourism experiences, after more than eighteen months of development in collaboration with global creative studio Framestore.

The game requires players to wear a “Magic Leap One: Creator Edition” augmented reality headset, which layers digital objects onto the real world by combining natural light waves with synthetic lightfields. It was unveiled at the first L.E.A.P. conference, hosted by U.S.-based spatial computing company Magic Leap in Los Angeles to allow its partners to showcase their innovations.

Once wearing the headset, players see a 3D map of New Zealand. Throughout the game – which requires them to answer quiz questions to compete for golden eggs – they can witness a giant kauri tree grow, get splashed by a breaching whale and have a bird’s-eye view of a helicopter bungee jump.

Jodi Williams, Air New Zealand’s general manager of Global Brand and Content Marketing, said, “By getting in early and being both a developer and creator we have been able to test and learn, creating an incredible platform from which to explore the potential of this technology as part of our Future Aircraft Cabin Experience program, including concepts such as being able to reframe customers’ perceptions of the physical cabin environment.”

Air New Zealand says that harnessing new technologies to connect with existing and future customers is a strategic priority for them. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the carrier had become JetBlue Technology Ventures’ first International Innovation Partner.

“The promise of mixed reality excites us enormously, and we are delighted that this project with Air New Zealand and Magic Leap provides us with the chance to show the world the extraordinary potential of this new medium, as we experiment with new ways to share narratives,” commented Framestore CEO William Sargent.